Specimen of Vespa crabro
Specimen of Vespa orientalis
European hornet nest
European hornet nest
Hornets
- Order: Hymenoptera
- Superfamily: Vespoidea
- Family: Vespidae
- Scientific name: Vespa crabro e V. orientalis
- Common name: hornet
Morphology: robust body covered with short hairs small and sparse, dimensions from 18 mm to 35 mm in length. Square abdomen in the front and tip at the rear, large jaws, rather long legs.
Coloration: head, thorax, abdomen, legs and antennas are yellow, red-rusted and black.
Habitat: in all open places rich in trees, on the edge of woods and gardens, in urbanized areas.
Flight season: from April to October.
Nest: located in natural caves (old hollow trees) or artificial (floors, attics, walls of old buildings, barns and shelters for wood), rarely in underground cavities. Cells are of hexagonal shape arranged in multiple overlapping disc-shaped honeycombs. A spheroidal envelope, made of the same cells material, encloses the combs. The nest entrance is lower, at the bottom of the envelope which is expanded as new combs are added. At the end of the cycle size can reach up to 60 cm in height and 30 cm in diameter.
Dimensions of colonies: Up to a maximum of 1,000 adult individuals in August-September.
Behavior: It has a powerful flight accompanied by a loud buzzing sound. Only the females are capable of stinging, and their sting is more dangerous than that of a bee or other wasps due to the larger amount of venom they inject. Females are less aggressive than ground-dwelling wasps; they never approach food on tables and will flee if disturbed. However, their aggressiveness increases significantly near the nest, so it is advisable to take precautions if you are within 3 meters of it.